We have shared many stories in this column about the inherent human value that people with developmental conditions bring to the classroom, the workplace and the community. And we have especially celebrated the wonders of inclusion — the way everyone’s best qualities seem to emerge when people of all abilities engage by learning and working together.
Ronald Reagan once said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”
I was reminded of this statement after reading what a Department of Ecology spokeswoman recently said about how the state offers businesses ideas for “best management practices” so they can become compliant: “We don’t tell them how to do it. We tell them what they need to do, and as long as they do it we’re not going to handcuff them,” she said.
The city of Marysville is committed to the safety and security of our citizens. For years, public safety and reducing our crime rate have been at the top of our agenda.
It ’s not news that the economy is in trouble. What is surprising is that financial gurus still look for 1960-type theories to fix things. That world is history. Locally, the financial pinch left Marysville schools with a budget shortfall resulting in termination of a number of young teachers. That’s another 1960s fix that doesn’t work because Math and Science teachers tend to be among the youngest.
Sometimes it seems that the economic downturn will never end.
Nary a day goes by that we don’t hear or see some message of just how bad things are — cuts to local school districts; cuts in city services, programs and staffing; another local business closing; more unemployed and more demand at local food banks are just some of the effects felt in our communities.
Promises to protect and enhance government accountability, accessibility and transparency were a common and popular refrain among candidates during the local 2010 primary and general elections. However, now that the elections are over, the votes have been tallied and the 2011 state legislative session is underway, it seems that those promises have been forgotten or are simply being ignored.
We recently had the opportunity to visit Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Woodinville. They had visited our early learning center to see and hear about our work of inclusion in the classroom. Now it was our turn to see their work. The Little Bit website describes therapeutic riding as a place “where miracles happen every day.” The day we visited was no exception.
Several days ago, financial guru Jim Cramer’s Web site, The Street, listed its pick of the best and worst states for small business. Surprisingly, the New York-based Web site listed Washington the fifth best in the nation for small business.
It took three light changes for me to get across the 88th and State intersection. I had opted for that route because 4th Street is normally jammed up in the afternoon. Too many people. Too many cars. Not enough arterials. And there will never be enough arterials because population-growth continues to outpace development.
As dire as the state’s budget situation is, we must guard against doing more long-term economic damage by raiding the state’s job-creating Public Works Trust Fund.
The organization I work for serves people with developmental conditions like autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and so on. We aspire to “serve” people rather than to “help” or to “fix” them.
The 2011 Washington Legislative Session began this week in Olympia and it’s clear that the No. 1 issue they’ll have to deal with is Washington’s projected $5 billion spending gap in the 2011-13 budget and the decisions made will affect every one of us.
I walked upstairs to stand at the top of the stairway wondering, why did I come up here? Earlier, my wife had said, “What was it you were saying before I interrupted?” I had no answer because the thought was lost. Why is it that plans and purposes drift off course so often?
