February 7, 2008

I'm just saying . . .
Budget woes and tales untold, that is what Ky. politics are made of
By James Cook, Times Editor

Now I try not to get too political in my column, but with this “severe budget crisis” looming like a massive storm cloud over the state, one has to wonder how bad it is when you take a look at what is going on.
If you or I have a budget crisis, we figure ways to save money, move our funds to make sure the basics get paid and try to be more efficient with our money. It not only makes sense, but the Bible tells us to be good stewards as well. So if we, as individuals, realize what has to be done, can some one explain a few things for me?
After announcing the “budget crisis” the newly elected knight in shining armor (of course all newly elected officials are the knights in shining armor, that’s why we elected them) showed how to save money by hiring people to high paying positions, which may or may not be necessary. Then a new traffic light, which the Kentucky Department of Transportation had ruled was not necessary, was given the green light, so to speak, in the neighborhood of one of the governors’ appointees.
Now I am not naïve. I know in politics, some things have to be taken care of and that has become acceptable. And of course, all was done above board and legal. No question about that. But then we have to start thinking about the budget. How bad is it if we can afford these things? Since when do we ignore the people that are paid by our tax dollars to decide if traffic lights are necessary? And since when is any office position, any office position, worth two or three times more than what police and rescue personnel get to protect us 24/7?
OK, I’ll give you that. The elected office positions make the “tough decisions” that involve our lives. That is why we elected them, to make those decisions and to hire people to other positions, hopefully based on qualifications that will enhance the “necessary positions.” But if that is the excuse, I am willing to either vote on every item in question or appoint me to one of these positions. And I’ll guarantee you I’ll vote for a reduction in the salary to help fund more important issues.
Now we can not blame the new knight, any more than we can blame the old knight. Let’s face it; in our type of government, it takes the executive and legislative branches together to spend money. So blame can go every where on this one. But instead of placing blame let us find solutions. The kind of solutions that will not stop our teachers from getting raises they were already promised, not forcing our college students to transfer to nearby states to get cheaper tuitions even though they would have to pay out of state tuitions, forcing school systems to fund necessary programs to help their students but providing no funding and clamping down on the judicial system which is supposed to keep us safe.
Now I am sure the politicians are working hard to find solutions and we need to trust them. But some of the solutions are not sound. The casino issue will become a heated problem, especially after press reports from last week were released. The notion of trying to get ethics back in Frankfort was funded, in part to the tune of over $3 million, $1 million by a casino owner. But then we are told it was all legal, there were no direct connections and all is well. Sounds like old politics to me, but then again we have allowed this for years and most voters are afraid to rock the boat.
I’m not an economist, money manager or even one who can keep a tight budget – like most of you. I guess we will have to see if the solutions will work. But I hope we do not trade ethics, efficiency, good stewardship and sound economic reforms for quick fixes and politics as usual. Voters remember, we can make a difference and I hope those wanting to hold office remember that as well.
I’m just saying . . .

View from the Mountain...
Lincoln Logs have a timeless appeal
By David G. Griffin, Times Reporter

Several weeks ago I was looking through an old magazine and saw an ad for Lincoln Logs. It described the toy as America’s National Toy and said it taught history through play. I agree with that assessment. I had a set when I was about seven years old. I never tired of them.
I remember that Santa brought the set to me, and it was large enough to construct a couple of log homes or one small fort. Of course, I used my little plastic cowboys and horses to compliment the ranch home. My mother (Bee) allowed me to set up my log homes in the living room, and I created a world all my own.
When my friends came to visit, we set up the kit to resemble a ranch in the “wild west.” Kenneth Hansel and Earl Benton Cromer were especially fond of the log set. We could play for hours without tiring. Each of my friends had his own method of designing the layout. It was the ultimate toy for developing young imaginations – and for many it still is.
The logs in my set were made of real hardwood, and the kit included roof supports, eaves, roof slats, and even a chimney. The cabins allowed for windows and doors just like real log homes. The pieces fit together by tongue and groove methods and could be taken apart when play was finished.
When I included my other plastic men and animals, the setting was similar to a real ranch in the woods. Every time I layed out the logs, it was possible to construct a different setting.
I was not aware at the time, but Lincoln Logs actually promote logical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and self-confidence. When I looked up the original advertisement for the toy, I found that they were designed by J.L Wright (brother of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright).
The company that first sold the log sets was the Halsam Products Company of Chicago. The original cost was $3. It is still possible to purchase this great toy even today. However, the set now costs approximately $90.
In my day, the logs were stored in a large can with a removable tin top. My mother always made me put them back in their original container when I was finished with the toys. You could find them in my room at home for years on end. Even when I went away to college, the log set was safely stored in my bedroom.
As a freshman at UK, I was required to take a class of US History. For nearly a semester the professor discussed different sections of history and finally informed the class of a year-end project for the final exam. I was sweating this project until I discussed it with my mother the next weekend when I went back home. She suggested that I get out my Lincoln Logs and make a real old Kentucky cabin just like Abraham Lincoln lived in near Hodgenville. What a great idea!
That weekend I constructed a cabin using the logs and small nails to make sure it did not fall apart when the professor picked it up for examination. In addition to the cabin, I also wrote a term paper describing the original cabin that President Lincoln lived in as a boy growing up in Kentucky.
After a few days the grades were posted and, to my surprise, I received an A+ for my final grade. The professor even commented on how “original” the idea was and what a good job I did! That not only made me extremely happy, but my mother was pleased also. (She was a very bright lady.)
The original advertisement for the logs said, “The very Spirit of America is typified by the creative possibilities of Lincoln Logs.” I agree with this assessment because I never got tired of constructing the variety of cabins that were possible in the kit.
My only regret is that my grandchildren would never see the vast possibilities of the creative nature of such a toy. Most children today have the need for toys to chime, talk, clang, or exhibit exotic electronic sounds or colors. To me, the logs captured the beauty, simplicity, and timeless appeal of such a unique toy.

(You can reach me at mtnman@mis.net I appreciate your comments and suggestions. Sometimes they give me ideas for future topics.)