Don't Forget to VOTE Next Tuesday

As a follow up to my column from May about voter apathy with a call to try to get out the vote

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE ON TUESDAY

It is amazing to me how many people are worried about how high their taxes are.  There are also many people that seem to be concerned that unemployment is too high.  Many people complain about the high cost of health care or that they want the government to keep their hands away from healthcare.  People are worried that our education system isn’t what it is suppose to be and that our children are falling behind.   All of these seem to be important topics that are on people’s minds, but then relatively few people show up on election day.

Mid term election are notorious for low voter turnout.  They are also notorious for the party in power losing that power.

 This year the "Tea Party" has made it even more interesting by hijacking the Republican Party and taken it for a ride.  The only problem is that when people feel like they have no hope they will turn to just about anybody who they think has different ideas.

... Tea Party protests have started what is suppose to be a revolution of sorts.  It still remains to be seen if it will make a difference in this year’s election.  Many of the candidates that have been recognized as “Tea Party” candidates have been making news for less than flattering reasons...

I would prefer that people like Rand Paul and Christine O'Donnell stay as far away from the US Senate as possible.

...On Tuesday November 2nd Hoosiers will head to the polls to elect the people that will lead us into the future.  Many Federal, State and County leaders will be chosen and it is our right and duty to make an informed decision at the polls.  I hope you will take the time and do the right thing and vote.  The right to vote is one of our fundamental rights as citizens and everyone  that is able should exercise that right...  

If the system is to work the way it was intended then we must all do our duty and VOTE on Tuesday November 2.

A Pathetic Display of Apathy

Last May, following the Primary election I wrote a column about voter turnout

A PATHETIC DISPLAY OF APATHY


This year’s primary election was suppose to be different.  For many years there had been an apathy that had consumed voters but now they were supposedly mad as hell and ready to take action. After the Wall Street bailouts of the insurance and banking industries and the Congressional passing of Obamacare, voters were planning to come out in groves to vote those bums out.  The people were assembling and holding “Tea Party” rallies in their preparation for the impending “revolution”.  Of course nobody seems to have told the voters of Indiana and Floyd County.


There are a lot of people out there who are very angry and this year things could be different.


 The famous bumper sticker read “IF YOU DON’T VOTE, YOU CAN’T COMPLAIN!”.  Well there seems to be a lot of people out there complaining but relatively few that are actually voting.  The future of our community and our country is counting on the leaders that we will choose in November so we all must all do our part.  It is one of the most of important things that we can do as United States citizens and it is often taken for granted.  Voting in a free election is one of the fundamental rights that this country was founded on and it is a shame that more people don’t take advantage of it.

2010 General Election Endorsements

For this years election I have decided to take the plunge and jump into the endorsement game, maybe next year I will ask the New Albany City council to help subsidize me.

My Friday Column Announces First Endorsements

Since mid 2009 I have worked diligently to become an active advocate for the average person to become more politically engaged.  A major aim of mine is to address issues at the Federal, State and Local level.  I have and will continue to work to ensure that we have a government climate that best benefits the citizens of New Albany and Floyd County


Shane Gibson--Indiana House District 72

I have known Mr. Gibson for many years.   I feel he has worked hard to make our community a better place as a Deputy Prosecutor and in his current position a City Attorney.Mr. Gibson stands firm that using tolls to pay for the Bridges project is a bad idea while his opponent has the same wait and see as his counterpart in the Senate race. 

http://electshanegibson.com/

Charles "Chuck" Freiberger--Indiana Senate District

With the budget crisis that has faced many school corporations including the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated Schools, I think that it is important that we are represented by someone with an education background.  With the huge cuts in education that Hoosiers have recently faced I think that it is important to send someone to Indianapolis that has made education a priority.  

http://chuckfreiberger.com/index/
Baron Hill--US House District 9


...Mr. Hill drove by and saw my makeshift toll booth that was built as part of a protest.  He told the group I was sitting with that he hated the idea of tolls.  It was good to hear that from a member of Congress.

http://www.hoosiersforhill.com/

No jobs or influence were offered to me for the endorsement that I have made

Remember to Vote November 2

I am Matthew Nash and I approve this message

"I HAVE A MICROPHONE AND YOU WILL LISTEN TO EVERY WORD THAT I HAVE TO SAY"

This week in MY FRIDAY COLUMN I respond to a conversation that took place over at Roger Baylor's NA Confidential Blog:  www.CityofNewAlbany.blogspot.com

EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE AN OPINION


While shooting down and never answering my specific question he stated “if your not helping, get the hell out of the way.”

This really took me back.  For someone to suggest that someone with a different opinion as his should just keep it to themselves and hope the people in charge make the right decisions (apparently he has never been to one of New Albany's city council meetings).

 It is pretty un-American to stand by as things go on around you, that you do not like and you just “get out of the way”.   My column would get really boring really quickly if I used that philosophy when preparing what to write.

I do not plan on getting out of the way any time soon.  

You may not always agree with what I have to say, but you have the right to respond and express your opinion’s also.  We might disagree on philosophy or political ideology but what we can all agree that every opinion is important and has the right to be expressed.

My Brief trip to "Bizarro World"

This week in My Friday Column I discuss my journey to a strange world:

WHAT A BIZARRE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Dan Coffey was making sense to me, and I agreed with him.  Steve Price, sporting a new clean cut look was in control of his emotions and was remaining logical.   

Monday night's city council meeting was one for the ages.  It was interesting to see 1sI member Bob Caesar pitching slow-pitch softballs to Mike Dalby.  Even better was the nasty "Knuckler" that city council president John Gonder threw, while Mr. Dalby just swung.

 Mr. Gonder related of how he ran into someone from a company that was listed in some of the literature that was presented.  Basically the person denied that Mr. Dalby’s group had any involvement in the company’s growth, contrary to 1sI’s claims. 

Some One Southern Indiana members were on hand for the public comments portion of the meeting.  Everyone basically said the same thing.  They never could have grown or expanded their company in New Albany without the help of 1sI.  The only specific thing that they could say that the group actually did for them was helped them to get tax abatements and other incentives.

So as I am listening, what it sounds like to me is that Mr. Dalby and 1sI are asking for $70,000 in Economic Development Income Tax money so they can teach their members to come before the council and ask for more tax money

It was clear that most of the council members were upset that 1sI decided to endorse candidates in the upcoming election.  As a private organization they are allowed to do whatever they want.  I am the last person in the world that would get in the way of anyone's freedom of speech, just don't ask me to pay for it.

I agree with his assessment that their organization has every right to get involved to advance their political agenda but I do not think that the city of New Albany should be asked to subsidize them.

It is that time of year again!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Harvest Homecoming this year and I hope to see you there.

A little sneak peek at this week's column

Generally when I write a column I keep it to myself.  Even those that are close to me do not know anything about it until it is released in The Tribune on Friday morning.  

This week I am giving a little hint as to what I am discussing in MY FRIDAY COLUMN

New Albany: A CITY ON THE MOVE

MY FRIDAY COLUMN this week looks at the recent exciting growth that has come to our downtown.

A CITY ON THE MOVE

...For years our downtown has been like a ghost town, especially after the sun went down, but that doesn’t seem to be the case any more...

Inspiration for this week's column came during a recent trip downtown for the opening of LaRosita Mexican Grill and Bar followed by desert at the River City Winery.

...The YMCA was built as a catalyst for downtown growth and it hasn’t disappointed.  Even before the construction was completed investors started looking at our downtown as a place they wanted to be...

...When our amphitheater was destroyed a few years ago  our riverfront could have easily been left to wither and die.  Now with a newly designed permanent facility, we have experienced a plethora of musical and entertainment acts..

New Albany is clearly a city on the move and things are only looking bigger and better.  I can't wait to see what happens next.