As we do each Jan. 1, we begin the new year by listing some hopes we have for the community, state and nation in 2010.
We begin by repeating two of the hopes we had for 2009 because they remain major needs that did not even come close to be achieved during the year: Economic recovery and more cooperation.
Because we discussed these two hopes at length yesterday, we will be brief.
The economy remains the overriding issue in this community. Too many of our friends, neighbors and family members either have seen their jobs completely disappear or have had their hours or paychecks reduced.
As the new year begins, Gov. Steve Beshear is hinting that the current level of spending in Frankfort will have to be slashed by another $1.5 billion and that state employees could receive “furlough days” for which they receive no pay. Many private employers already have eliminated jobs and ordered furlough days for employees. All of this has the makings of another dismal year for the economy.
Our number one hope for 2010 is that those fears will not be realized. We hope the employers throughout this region see such an increase in income in 2010 that they will begin adding jobs. We hope new businesses will fill the numerous empty storefronts in this and other area communities, and that construction of new homes and businesses will pick up.
This will require a major economic recovery for not only this community but for the nation as a whole. While red ink gushing out of Washington at an alarming rate is irresponsible and greatly concerns us, we hope that it at least encourages more of an economic recovery than we have seen to date.
A year ago we wrote that most people were tired of the partisan bickering that has dominated and hampered government in both Frankfort and Washington in recent years. If anything, the divisiveness got worse in 2009 with Democrats that hold the majority in both houses of Congress virtually ignoring the Republican minority and with the Democrat-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate combining to thwart progress in Frankfort.
When either party controls the political agenda, the most extreme elements of both parties wield too much influence.
However, the majority of Americans are neither conservatives nor liberals, but moderates. In 2010 we hope the more moderate forces in both parties will regain control and attempt to reach compromises on key issues.
Now a few new hopes for 2010.
‰ Political campaigns that emphasize the positive, instead of the negative.
The year that has just ended was supposed to be one in which there were no elections in Kentucky. However, there were three special legislative races in the state in 2009, and if the two 2009 Senate races are any indication, it does not bode well for our goal of more positive campaigns being accomplished in 2010. While both Senate races were brief in duration, the mud flew freely in each one. We hope for better in 2010.
The number of political races on this year’s ballot is nearly overwhelming. Kentucky voters will be electing a U.S. senator, its six members of the U.S. House of Representatives, all 100 members of the Kentucky House, half the Kentucky Senate, virtually every city and county office in the state and many school board members. In short, names of hundreds of individuals will be on the ballot this year.
A number of candidates already have filed for offices what will be on the May primary ballots, and many of them are seeking office for the first time. We find that encouraging. Newcomers can offer flesh ideas and force entrenched incumbents to work a little harder. Democracy is served best when voters have choices.
May this be a year in which the candidates stick to the issues and avoid attacks on their opponents. We want candidates to spend a lot more time telling us why we should vote for them and far less time telling us why we should vote against their opponents. Those who direct political campaigns tell us that negative ads work. Maybe they do, but they also turn people off and cause some to not vote at all.
‰ Find ways to do more with less.
The sagging economy is forcing all of us to find ways to cut costs. Most families have been forced to find new ways to economize. Private businesses are constantly seeking ways to reduce costs while continuing to produce quality products or provide good service to their customers. Virtually every state agency and all the universities and community and technical colleges have seen their budgets either reduced or frozen. With more state cuts a certainty, it may be impossible to prevent public schools, prisons and mental health from also seeing their budgets cut.
Is this expense necessary? Can we do without this employee? How can we save money on this? In short, how can we reduce spending and still do an adequate job of educating our young people, housing our prisoners, protect our citizens, pave our highways and do other essential tasks?
We all must be asking those and other questions?
Unless you are one of the fortunate few who have not felt the effects of this recession, you are already finding ways to do more with less. That’s going to continue in 2010. We must find ways to be more efficient. That requires a team effort.
‰ Place a constitutional amendment to expand gambling on the November ballot.
It is past time to let the people of this state decide the gambling issue by giving them the chance to vote on it.
As this is written, the state’s horse industry and some key politicians — led by Speaker of the House Greg Stumbo — continue to advocate bypassing a statewide referendum by enacting a law to establish video slot machines at race tracks. In fact, such a law was approved by the Kentucky House of Representatives during a 2009 special session but died in the Senate.
Not giving the people the right to vote on an amendment to expand gambling would be a huge political mistake that could well be struck down by the courts, just as a similar effort in Ohio was struck down. When legislators gather in Frankfort next week for the start of the 2010, they should let leaders of both parties know that the only way they will support expanded gambling is through a ballot issue. Let the people decide.
