Month: August 2009

Character Really Does Count and Sometimes It Costs

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Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett demonstrated excellent character over the weekend and while he paid a significant price for it, the lesson he’s taught us all is extremely valuable.

It’s quite rare that we hear about something truly good a politician does and it’s so refreshing when it happens. Regardless of your political beliefs, Barrett’s recent actions prove he is worthy of praise and deserving of admiration.

What did exactly did Barrett do? It’s really quite simple. Someone needed help and cried out in distress. Barrett heard and went over to help. When Barrett’s efforts to calm the attacker didn’t seem to be working, he took out his cell phone to dial 911 and then he was brutally attacked.

Anthony J. Peters was arguing with his former girlfriend, reportedly over a custody issue for their daughter, and things quickly escalated. While the woman was not harmed, thanks to Barrett’s intervention, Barrett was severely injured. Peters brutally attacked Barrett with a metal police-style baton.

After a three hour surgery to repair his shattered hand and plastic surgery to repair a cut from his cheek to his nose, Barrett still faces oral surgery to fix broken teeth. He is healing and happy to be home now. Peters is in jail where he belongs.

This is a story worth telling because it’s about a man stepping in to help someone in distress. That’s heroic. Character counts, but it also costs.

Cash for Clunkers is Wasteful

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Cash for Clunkers is bringing people into dealerships again and that’s a great thing, right? There’s no doubt that it’s a popular program. Now that Congress has approved another $2 billion infusion, shouldn’t we begin to evaluate the program?

The program offers drivers who trade in qualifying vehicles up to a $4,500 credit toward a new, more fuel-efficient car from participating dealers. The government reimburses dealers. The goal is to promote fuel efficiency and stimulate the very weak automotive industry. It comes in the wake of the controversial automotive industry bailout.

It’s unclear who exactly benefits from the program, however. The Washington Post reported that 4 out of 5 cars being bought are foreign made. Top sellers include Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Toyota Prius and Toyota Camry. It’s a shame that Cash for Clunkers isn’t directly helping the American manufacturers who received the government bailouts.

This program’s wasteful elements disturb me most. The program mandates that these clunkers are demolished within 180 days. Why not reuse and recycle? Many of these cars are still drivable and could easily serve someone in need of transportation. There are many in need today. But due to the government mandate, these cars can’t be reused. The government advises that car dealers replace a trade-in’s, now termed a clunker’s, engine oil with a sodium silicate solution. This lethal injection of liquid glass renders the car inoperable. It’s a waste of resources and that speaks volumes about the program’s lack of foresight. Recent videos of a Volvo and a Mercedes being destroyed as part of the program have begun to fuel outrage.

Our 2002 Jeep Liberty would have qualified as a clunker. We opted to sell it to a college student for just $2,000 rather than utilize the Cash for Clunkers program. Our Jeep hasn’t been destroyed. Instead, it’s being used to transport someone to and from his job and classes. Isn’t this a better stimulus program?

Don’t Worry, The Cookie Monster Remains Essentially The Same

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Yesterday on The View, the ladies thought it was absurd that the Cookie Monster would be appearing in a Healthy Eating PSA with Agriculture Secretary Vilsack . The PSA was produced with Sesame Workshop and features Cookie Monster, Vilsack and Broccoli talking about the importance of eating a “rainbow” of foods (especially fruits and vegetables) everyday. What’s wrong with that?

When PBS announced first announced it would be making some changes in its 35th season of Sesame Street in 2006, many people rushed to criticize. The thing that raised the greatest alarm was that the Cookie Monster would now advocate healthier eating. This is association between the Cookie Monster and healthier eating isn’t exactly news.

So many of us have grown up on Sesame Street that we feel we know the Cookie Monster and his now famous song “C is for Cookie, That’s Good Enough for Me.” There is no need to panic, however. That song won’t change, nor will the Cookie Monster character. Sesame Street emphasizes “Healthy Habits for Life” in an effort to combat soaring childhood obesity rates. The Cookie Monster simply eats fewer cookies and along with the rest of the monsters on the show and the millions of children watching at home, will learn about healthy foods and physical activity.

He does have another song now too. “A Cookie is a Sometimes Food” will help illustrate that there is a difference between a “sometimes” food and an “anytime” food. Talking vegetables and guest stars are also involved in the new healthy themes. This is something that will benefit both children and even many parents.

Rather than rush to criticize, tune in and realize that Sesame Street is doing exactly what it has done to be so successful over the past 39 years, it is changing to best reach today’s children. Without this modernization, Sesame Street would just be an old relic. I look forward to these and other changes.

Most adults do fear change. One of Sesame Street’s goals has been to help children adjust to unavoidable and sometimes upsetting changes. When the actor (Will Lee) who played Mr. Hooper died in 1982, a Sesame Street episode delicately and honestly addressed the fact that that Mr. Hooper would not be coming back. Like real family members who die, he was not replaced by another character or forgotten. His store remains and Big Bird still has a picture of him above his nest. After 9/11, Sesame Street focused an episode on overcoming loss. A grease fire at Hooper’s Store addressed fear. Firefighters rushed in to save the store and Elmo learned a great deal about the admirable work firefighters perform.

Childhood obesity is a serious issue and we should applaud the producers for addressing it. Times evolve and the show must evolve with it. Thank you Sesame Street for remembering your audience and for not taking us for granted.