I'm typing this post with extra-special care because I don't want to do or say anything that will change the course of a ground-breaking historical event, sure to allow many of us to move forward.
Readers know that I have often expressed my opinion in favor of a monumental event sure to change the way we live our lives and to brighten our outlook on the future.
If this event occurs, the employment picture will improve, people will suffer less stress, the nation will move along more smoothly, and we'll all finally feel a sense of equality as we go about our business every day, knowing that we no longer have to express anger toward the guy who got ahead of us in our day-to-day struggles to get where we want to go.
No, this is not the election of Sen. Barack Obama next Tuesday as President of the United States of America. Though I hope to see that happen, I must report something just as significant, something just as dear to my heart.
Tomorrow, October 30, 2008, a bunch of politicians are coming to Sandpoint, not to ensure election of their favorite candidates to state and local offices.
Instead of campaigning, the governor, the U.S. Senators (hope they have lots of honeybuckets placed strategically away from one another so no foot tapping can occur), Idaho legislators and other state honchos will be here to officially break ground for the beginning of THE BYWAY aka BYPASS around Sandpoint.
I know this because the Daily Bee, which never misses an opportunity to make a buck, has sold a lot of advertising for the official program. The event will occur tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the site of Walt and Vera Jones' Lakeside Motel. Former Mayor Ray Miller will lead the flag salute, Daily Bee publisher David Keyes will act as emcee, and Gov. Butch Otter will give the keynote address.
I don't know who will be there with protest signs, but I'm sure that will occur, and I need to go through my Daily Bee official program to see who bought ads and who did not. People said we weren't supposed to shop at the businesses who did not support the BYWAY aka BYPASS (to all of us oldsters who have waited a lifetime for this).
I would guess that a process of elimination would reveal those adamant nonsupporters, but I would proclaim publicly that not shopping at those places because those people had their opinions opposing the BYWAY aka BYPASS is downright stupid. Everyone has a right to an opinion.
This has been a hard-fought local issue for decades. I understand and empathize with many of the reasons for folks opposing the route. Nonetheless, if all goes well over the next four years, the BYWAY aka BYPASS will eliminate the need for cattle and pig trucks and all cross-country transporters and travelers, in general, to endure the insanity of driving through the congestion of downtown Sandpoint.
I also submit that Sandpoint has, by now, established itself as a destination place, and concerns over losing the tourist dollar seem inconsequential at this point. Sandpoint also depends on the local dollars, and I believe that a great percentage of our population has refrained from spending time in downtown for a number of years because of the traffic insanity. Maybe they will come back when the streets are a bit more peaceful.
I have observed that in Bonners Ferry, and I see it in Wallace. In fact, I believe that Wallace thrived after I-90 bypassed its downtown.
Bypass construction will be a headache, as is any road construction. I remember the year that Division Street was rebuilt. That was my direct route to work at Sandpoint High School, and every morning as I'd have to turn into the residential area, taking a more circuitous route to school, I groaned. When that brand new, better street opened, however, all the headaches were forgotten. Sorta like a pregnancy. You have to deal with a bit of discomfort, but the end result is worth it all.
I wondered out loud to Bill this morning if I really wanted to deal with finding a parking spot and walking halfway through town to view tomorrow's monumental event. We both agreed that the reporter in me says it must happen. So, I'll plan my schedule, take my camera and stand in the crowd observing and listening.
It should be something to behold, for sure. Let the BYWAY aka BYPASS begin so that some day the heart of Sandpoint will again function without so much emotional and physical distress.
6 comments:
God willing, I will see you there...
Seems peculiar how someone who has written that they despise Bill Clinton so much will vote for someone just like him and who is heavily endorsed by him. hmmm...........
Marianne, have you read Obama's words? Do you understand his intentions? As a liar, Bill Clinton is a *piker* compared with Obama.
The man is an extremely dangerous fraud. His goal, shared by his dominatrix wife, is the destruction of this country as we know it.
Please open your eyes!
Mac and Sarah in '08!
Anonymous and reconsider...
We should all hope Obama's goal is to change the way this country is right now, because things aren't working. If you think otherwise, you're severely misguided.
If you've read this blog with any regularity, then you would know the author goes with the person and not the party or the people campaigning with them. I loved Bill Clinton and was happy with the direction he started to take this country. I am so impressed by Barack Obama that I got goose bumps when I went to see him speak in person. They may have some similar ideals (healthcare for all citizens, better education - sounds good to me!), but they are not the same man by any means. I have never in my lifetime seen a candidate bring so many different people together for one common goal. John McCain and Sarah Palin are so far out of touch with reality that they can't even agree on what their own platform is. In fact, I haven't even been hearing talk about their platform lately and what they're going to do to better the country. Instead, like you, they are grasping at straws to try to put down a great person who is just trying to bring a little positivity to the world.
" I am so impressed by Barack Obama that I got goose bumps when I went to see him speak in person."
That's precisely what frightens me about Obama. His charismatic persona bypasses the rational part of the brain and goes straight for the limbic.
The reaction you described above is identical to that experienced by the Germans who "went to hear (Hitler) speak in person."
What's needed here is more thinking and less emotion.
I am a lifelong independent voter who has found herself in the past five national elections voting against, rather than for, each candidate in succession: Clinton, Clinton, Gore, Kerry, and now Obama. I don't particularly like McCain--and I certainly did not like Bush--but for me the alternative in each case has been intolerable.
I am a highly educated independent, a thinker, and a believer in the Constitution, free-market capitalism, and above all FREEDOM.
Obama is a fraud.
As an independent, I have done a lot of research on each candidate. This is NOT the John McCain of 2000 that would have made my choice between Obama and McCain much harder. McCain has become the epitome of someone that wants something so much that he sacrifices all honor and conscience. I have witnessed the hate that he and Palin have created throughout this country and it is a complete disgrace. The blatant lies and completely made up stories they have told demonstrate that they are willing to do ANYTHING to get elected. I admit, both sides have displayed negative ads, but the degree that the McCain/Palin camp has outright lied is scary.
There is a good chance that Obama will be assassinated and McCain will probably die in office. Who do you REALLY want to finish out the term?
If you believe that Obama is a terrorist and/or Palin is remotely qualified to step in, then you must stop watching only FOX news and look at more balanced reporting.
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