A Better REGION 8

Making History

 

This week we pause to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the founding of Jonesboro and Craighead county. There are many great events going on during the week focusing on our rich history and our hopes for the future. The community pride that will be showcased in the days ahead will be a statement to the values and character of the people of Region 8. This slice of Americana is rarely seen anymore in our country and I hope you can

find the time to enjoy at least one of the events. I believe it is important to reflect on our history and to honor those who came before us. However, it is also important to realize that our actions today become the history of tomorrow. That’s one thing that we rarely consider. History never looks like history when you are living through it. Fifty years from now we will celebrate a bicentennial. How will Jonesboro, Craighead County and all of Region 8 look by then? What accomplishments will we hold up as great examples from our “history” in the year 2059. Whose contributions will we celebrate? Many of us won’t be here. But you know what? Our legacies will remain. So as we pause to reflect and celebrate the last hundred and fifty years, I challenge each and every one of you to begin writing the next chapter in our history today. You will be better for it and it will make this A Better Region 8.

No trust in the Media

Richie from Beech Grove wrote me last week with some interesting questions. He asked:

I was wondering why KAIT has failed to provide any coverage of the ACORN story? I have watched and did a search of KAIT's web site and found nothing concerning this story. I was hoping that the bias everyone is saying is occuring had not happened here. I hope that I am wrong. Is ABC or KAIT making the decision on this or is it just an oversight. I may just be an ordinary working man from Beech Grove but I do know when something that affects people of region 8 it should be reported  no matter the feeling of ABC or KAIT.

Richie is not alone in his concerns.  New research from the Pew Research Center shows that nearly 65% of Americans have no trust in the media. I believe that the reason for the distrust is that the line between opinion and hard, factual news has become blurred.  The combination of  network news, web sites, blogs, cable news, and talk radio that all seem to push an agenda, has led to this distrust. It seems that more and more cable news outlets add talk shows daily to take one side or another on any given issue.

I can understand why on a national level more Americans are saying they find political bias. Locally, I believe it is a different matter.

I have honestly wondered- how could top tier networks like ABC, CBS, NBC or even the New York Times, possibly miss the Van Jones debacle? Or even more incredibly, how could these major news organizations totally ignore the ACORN hidden video story, which seems to be the talk around every water cooler?

It is distressing to those of us who work in local television stations across the country. At the local level we rely on our affiliations with national organizations like ABC, CNN and the Associated Press to bring you stories of national concern.

You should know that political bias is not something we do here. Each day at KAIT we strive to get the facts right. If you believe we fall short of that goal or that a story is off base, let us know about it. Our job is to be fair in our reporting. That includes telling all sides of a story. When it comes to news coverage, we work hard to gain your trust each and every day and we believe that makes this a Better Region 8.

Getting The Financial House in Order

Last Week, President Obama made a speech to the movers and shakers in the financial world about new guidelines to address the lax oversight that led to the collapse of Lehman Brothers last year. As with anything that comes out of Washington, the devil is in the details, and there are many interests involved in this that want to protect their turf. Not just banks and financial institutions, but committees, regulatory boards, and government agencies as well. We all know that the president has stirred up a hornet’s nest with what the public perceives as a government takeover of healthcare. But he is likely to find John Q. Public more at his side when it comes to holding highly-paid and highly bonused bankers and brokers to some kind of standard, and forestalling the kind of financial dangers we faced just a year ago. Wall Street wants to water down Obama’s recommendation to tighten up the rules and they are fighting tough new restrictions on executive pay.  On one hand, there’s something distressing about government having too much of a say in what salary a private employee makes. But, on the other hand, fat cats who take limousines to their penthouse offices, and then beg for  government bailouts, don’t draw any sympathy from folks like us. Now is the time for Wall Street and big banking to get its house in order, and show the president and the public that they are learning the lessons of the financial meltdown. President Obama is correct to use his bully pulpit to call Wall Street to account, and he ought to call out the executives-- and the heads of government agencies--  who want to put their self interests ahead of the national interest. That will make our country and Region 8 better.

The Importance of First Impressions

I’m a firm believer that first impressions are important. You may not realize it, but within the first three seconds of meeting someone new, you are evaluated… even if it is just a glance. People judge your visual and behavioral appearance from head to toe. They observe your demeanor, mannerisms, and body language. Within only three seconds, you make an impression-good or bad. You may intrigue some and turn-off others. This first impression process occurs in every new situation. Within the first few seconds of meeting you, people will pass judgment. Once the first impression is made, it is virtually irreversible. It is human nature. That is why I would like to congratulate Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin, Wallace Fowler, and Kelly Pope for working together to find a solution which prevents Jonesboro from making a poor first impression. For years the state highway department has allowed the interchanges on Hwy 63 in Jonesboro to become an overgrown eyesore. These gentleman forged a public/private partnership and found a way to work within the system to get the project done and improve the curb appeal of our fair city. Many of you may shrug this off as not a big deal. Don’t. The first impression of a city is important. It is vital to attracting industry, commerce, and new residents to a community. As we all work hard to revitalize our cities and towns, we should look around and find ways to make a better first impression. We should all show some civic pride and work together for solutions. These three gentlemen did and in the process they have made this a Better Region 8.

Stop the Shouting

I have to tell you last week when South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson screamed “You lie!” during the President’s address to Congress, I did not find it as shocking as most. However, I did not simply chalk it up to the controversy surrounding healthcare reform either. Instead, I believe it is a by-product of our political system’s failures. Throughout the history of our nation, Americans have revered heated political debate.  But in this day and age of 10 second sound bites, talk radio, cable pundits, and all the “Opinion” that is available instantly on the internet, we have lost the art of political oratory. We have given up on civil debate. We have instead resorted to shouting. Lots and lots of shouting. Nowadays, it seems that everyone has an opinion, everyone needs to be heard and everyone feels that if they can shout the loudest, they win by drowning out their opposition. This strategy has been prevalent for years. Draw a line in the sand, get your base on your side, on any given issue, and shout to the high heavens. It doesn’t matter if its immigration, taxes, abortion, going to war or in this case healthcare. Wanna win? Divide people on an issue and make a lot of noise. And what happens? We citizens get stuck. Left divided with nothing to show for it but lots of noise and few results. Folks, don’t we deserve better? A hundred and fifty years ago while addressing the issue of slavery, Abraham Lincoln stood in the Illinois statehouse and said “A house divided against itself cannot stand”. Those words are just as true today. We have let them divide us. We have allowed this great nation to become divvied up into Red states vs Blue states. Conservatives vs Liberals. Wingnuts on the right and Wingnuts on the left.  No one is allowed to stand in the moderate middle. What can we do about it? Stop shouting. Stop being divisive. Share your opinion on matters and then ask those who disagree with you to share theirs. Maybe we can all figure out where the middle ground is and return civilized debate back into the equation. It will not happen overnight but it will make this a Better Region 8.

Guest Editorial-Walkable Communities

To compete in today’s global economy, communities must be livable.  Families, entrepreneurs, retirees, and knowledge-based industries all want to locate in livable communities.  One of the cornerstones of a livable community is that it is walkable.

 

Just what does a walkable community offer?  It provides sidewalks and greenways so residents can access housing, community services, transportation, shopping, and recreation.  Being walkable makes neighborhoods vibrant and strong.  Neighbors meet one another and take pride in where they live.  Commercial streets become attractive destinations.  Urban centers are revitalized, which stabilizes neighborhoods and avoids urban sprawl.  What’s more, walkable communities reduce traffic congestion.

 

When you combine our need to compete globally with the fact that we’re overweight, we’re growing older as a nation, and we’re living longer, you have a scenario that makes a walkable community not just a competitive asset, but a necessity to help citizens maintain their health, mobility, and independence.  When older adults no longer drive, sidewalks and greenways become crucial for staying active and maintaining a social network. Walking may mean the difference in getting to vital services like the grocery store or pharmacy.  Ultimately, a community that is walkable is good for everybody. 

 

The Center on Aging Northeast is partnering with the AARP, the City of Jonesboro, the Northeast Arkansas Bicycle Coalition and other partners to conduct a walkability survey on October 8.  This is a first step in helping Jonesboro become more walkable and your help is needed.  If you would like more information or to help with the survey, please call 870-336-5088.  Let’s make Region 8 more walkable.