We’re starting a new Opinion page feature today called Hits & Misses. It’s an opportunity for us to give people and institutions kudos when their actions are a hit, and tweak their noses a bit when they swing and miss. Most institutions have a pretty good batting average, but everybody strikes out once in a while, so we thought we’d keep score. Look for it on Saturdays.
— Doug Barker, Editor
HIT
Good government is in the details
The Aberdeen City Council is considering an ordinance that would restrict where social service agencies could locate. Some say the motivation is to locate agencies in less conspicuous places to avoid embarrassment by people who need the assistance. It would also mean those assistance seekers would be less likely to be hanging out downtown, and that’s likely another motivation, if not the main one.
The city’s appointed planning commission is looking at it now. Council member Dee Anne Shaw had her lights on when she asked for an amendment so that the planning commission will report back not with a recommendation, but with just the pros and cons of the potential zoning change. It’s a political and policy issue, and the council needs to make the decision itself, not rely on a recommendation from the unelected commission.
MISS
The system is rigged
The college entrance cheating scandal reaffirms what many of us already know: The system is rigged.
We were shocked (shocked!) to learn that with enough money, you could get your child into any university.
It used to entail funding construction of a classroom building or sports arena. But for a measly sum of “between $200,000 and $6.5 million,” according to many reports, a parent could guarantee their child acceptance to the college of their choice.
The average Grays Harbor County family would have to save all of their money for almost four years to pay a $200,000 bribe.
It’s no surprise to most people that parents will do whatever they can for their children, if they can afford it.
It’s no surprise that buying a more expensive house in a better school district will help your kids get into a better school, or that if you can afford a tutor to help your kid get better grades, you will do it.
The only people who are surprised by this latest income-related scandal are the suckers who thought the system wasn’t rigged.
