The entire planning that went into the "red peril" causes me to smile. Think about it. The paucity of intellect and reasoning that went into this financial fiasco, from ill-conceived conception to the appearance of backroom deception, staggers even the most pie-eyed optimist.
Actual educational needs in Duluth versus economic hardships already foisted upon hard-pressed residents -- in the form of new fees and taxes -- boils this plan down to expensive speculation. The belief that pounding more financial sand down the school district's rat hole will cure educational ills seems as naïve to me as believing the IRS agent who says, "Hi, I'm here to help you."
The district's farcically staged "informational meetings," to gather local input, were a stroke of pure underhanded genius. The agenda had already been cast in stone, it seemed, and the chicanery was to appease residents while deception ran rampant.
The district had the law on its side, an excellent ally when the marked cards are discovered.
The district can take its Pyrrhic victory and revel in how it was won by guile, false empowerment to the people, and the lack of fairness given the Great Unwashed who obviously and collectively were dismissed as unworthy to deal with honorably.
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The district can make all the changes it wants now. A monkey in silk is still a monkey.
The district pressed on. It didn't need our votes then and can savor its success. For it has raised our taxes and razed our homes. Come election time, we in the Duluth district will raise hell.
The thought causes me to smile again.
There is a Spanish proverb that explains the difference between the creation and the implementation of a plan: Paper bleeds little.
Howie "Monkey in Silk" Marline
Duluth
