Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Picayunish

Ricky Ragsdale, Publisher
Published Wednesday, November 10, 1999 in the Nevada County Picayune

It Was Five Years Ago . . . This past Friday, November 5, was the fifth anniversary that President Ronald Reagan told the nation he was suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. Though Reagan had been out of office and the public eye for several years, he decided to inform the nation of his disease. Both President Reagan and his wife, Nancy, suffered through several diseases while he was President and were able to raise public awareness about their diseases. President Reagan's son, Michael, is a talk show host and wrote a book concerning his father's 'wit, wisdom and eternal optimism' entitled The Common Sense Of An Uncommon Man. It would not hurt if local politicians found a copy and studied Reagan's wisdom and conservatism.

Wit & Wisdom? Several eyebrows were raised last week when local Senator and Democratic Congressman hopeful Mike Ross was pictured on the front page of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette's business section. Sen. Ross was seen picketing with teamster's at a trucking facility in Little Rock. The story claimed Ross was picketing to pick up their endorsement, and a follow-up story found in Little Rock's edition (and on their web-site) the next day stated Ross was pretty much a shoo-in for AFL-CIO endorsement to be handed out next Spring. This endorsement is good for the pocketbooks of campaigns as well as a few votes, though some votes could have been lost, unless Ross is able to give an explanation without sounding like a politician.

Politicians . . . "Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! The only experience you gain in politics is how to be political." Ronald Reagan, 1976

How Do You Stop A Tax? I am not sure that very many taxes added have ever been stopped once the purpose of the tax concluded. Prescott's City Council recently approved the continuance of a five-mill property and personal tax for city residents. The tax brings in about $115,000 yearly. Each year, when it comes up for continuance, we are reminded, it is not a new tax. Well, how do you stop an old tax? We're not sure what the purpose of this tax is and how it is used with the one-cent sewer tax, the one-cent hospital tax and the profit made from city owned services. Coffee shop talk wondered if the five-mill tax actually had a purpose or whether it goes to more vehicles, etc.

Political Rules . . . "I have learned that one of the most important rules in politics is poise - which means looking like an owl after you have behaved like a jackass." Ronald Reagan, 1973