I’m betting as I write this days prior to its publication that the “fiscal cliff” issue remains unresolved with the end of the year fast approaching. My, it’s been an interesting little bit of theater to keep us distracted after the November election.
So the White House trots out more than a trillion in tax increases and the GOP says how about $800 billion. And the White House says show us your plan so that happens but the White House rejects it.
Meanwhile the finger pointing and chest thumping continues.
Ain’t politics grand.
Sure they’ll come up with a deal by the end of the year, if they know what’s good for the markets here and overseas. Whether the deal is good for America or not remains to be seen as the devil is in the details.Will the rich be taxed a little higher? Probably. Will the middle class (however that may be defined) keep their tax cuts? Also probably. Will entitlements be tackled? Perhaps.
The guy I feel sorry for in this whole mess is John Boehner. The Speaker of the House has a fractured caucus that just refuses to fall in line behind him. Even if he and the president could sit down and thrash this out (and one to one I think they could), convincing the president his intentions are sound AND he can deliver the votes to make it happen are two different things.
So we slog along with this theater of the absurd with talking heads of all stripes weighing in back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Or as Diana puts it as I watch yet another news program, “Don’t they get tired of talking about this all the time?”
Apparently not until they get the deal done.
Truly champions
The recent Breakfast for Champions conducted by the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce
is an annual treat that highlights people and businesses in the community going above and beyond.
Certainly Larry Rochon deserves the Chairman’s Award for his efforts in Petoskey’s downtown over 20-plus years.
The award is an honor recognizing long-standing accomplishments, significant investment and extraordinary efforts that help shape the community.
Who can forget Record World, for 26 years Larry’s little haven for music from around the world? In an iTunes and Amazon world, “record” stores are a casualty but Larry held on forever sharing his love of music with all who came through the doors.
He could be counted on for coming up with albums you might not consider but should.
The unofficial mayor of Mitchell Street (along with then Mitchell Street Pub owner Jerry Ellman), he always watched out for the interests of his street and later on the Downtown Management Board for the whole business community.
The recognition by the business community is well-deserved.
What can you say about Dianne Litzenburger other than may the best woman win the Athena Award.
The Athena honor is intended for recipients who demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession; provide valuable service by devoting time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community; and assist women in reaching their full leadership potential. And there are plenty of areas where Dianne shines in her role as director of communication services with the Char-Em Intermediate School District, her work on the board of the Women’s Resource Center, as a member of Rotary Club of Petoskey and one of the people involved in Leadership Charlevoix County.
There are plenty of other community organizations she’s been involved with over the years and this old scrivener remembers her as a top-notch reporter at the Petoskey News-Review. Her award is very deserving indeed.
And congrats go out to the other winners who all — along with the others nominated for those award — do a lot to make this a wonderful place to live.
Shameful
Anti-United Nations fever struck the U.S. Senate again last Monday when ratification came up for a UN treaty on disabilities.
Not even former Republican Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole, a World War II veteran wounded severely in the war and now in frail health and in a wheelchair, and some current disabled vets could convince the Senate to vote for the measure.
Mirroring the 22-year-old Americans with Disabilities Act, the UN Treaty merely says countries should treat their disabled as they would any non-disabled persons and not discriminate against them. Even that non-threatening treaty can’t make it by those who see evil in everything the UN does.
But it is shameful that Dole, who has given so much to his country, had to feel the brunt of their scorn. He deserved better and the nation deserved better too.
Kendall P. Stanley is retired editor of the Petoskey News-Review. He can be contacted at kendallstanley@charter.net.
