Barber Poll

Without resource for more scientific polling, I walked into the barber shop this morning. I was waiting patiently reading the Bike Trail Boys/Concerned Taxpayer Group's final shot across the bow letter to the editor on the Op-ed in this morning's Forum. The author preferred use of the pronoun "we." His was only one name at the end of the letter - such is life in a small town.

The client in the chair bought up the subject saying that on his beach there were fifteen against and one for - too many unanswered questions. When asked point blank how it was going to go, the barber replied that the no voters were in the majority........among his clients. The client left a $4 tip.

The line on tomorrow's election

We don't have betting boards at work for sporting events. We do for school bond elections. It was $1 to get on the board this afternoon. The Board goes by percentage points of victory with a + being a yes vote and a - being a no with only one wager per percentage point. Here's what it looks like:
+56
+51
-51
-52
-53
-54
-55
-56
-57
-58
-59
-60
-65


Time for courage, time for vision, time for clarity. Can you bring yourself even to "a reluctant" yes? (repeat of April 8th posting)

On May 12th we will answer the question of whether or not it is a good idea to put ourselves in debt again for a new High School. A yes vote now is the right decision, of course it is, we know it is, we just enjoy quibbling.

Voting yes now requires our courage. Voting yes now requires our vision. Voting yes now will require our sacrifice. Voting yes now requires a measure of faith that together we are making the right decision.

Whether or not our decision was right will be answered in about ten years. What will building costs be in ten years? What will the interest rate be in ten years?




In 2015 the High School in John Lyden’s cornfield will be eight years old. New houses and building lots will have sprung up to the east of the school. Two new businesses will have sprung up on land east of Lake Region Coop. The School Board will have just hired two new Elementary teachers, the first new hires in ten years, to meet the slowly rising number of students. Ask anybody on the street whether or not the new High School was a good idea. The answer will be “of course it was.” I could sketch out for you the alternative, the School Board pondering a $48 million bond issue at 6%. No, let’s not go there.

After the quibbling clarity. Yes, of course, tomorrow.

Where's the joy in voting no?