Red Light, Green Light
Word coming from 104 Muskogee is Claremore will finally have street lights synchronized.
In the past 4 years city officials have studied and studied, agreed to spend money on a traffic light synchronization plan, and now it may become reality.
Will synchronization of traffic lights help traffic flow better along Hwy. 66? How will those lights be effected when a Burlington Northern train rolls through Claremore tying up traffic for 10-15 minutes?
The equipment has been installed at seven intersections throughout the downtown Claremore area. Traffic lights on Will Rogers Blvd., Patti Page Blvd., Lynn Riggs Blvd. and 1st street will be connected via the Internet and will feature cameras for the new system.
Rhythm Engineering, who installed the interactive system, says it will reduce stops by motorists by 60 to 90 percent, lower fuel consumption by 20 percent and reduce emissions by at least 30 percent. This all sounds great, as long as it helps unclog traffic.
Be patient fellow motorists, let us all with hold judgment on how it will work.
The proof will be seen soon enough.
Smaller government in name only
Most, if not all Conservatives believe in a smaller government. It's part of the Red Trinity we genuflex to each day, Smaller Government, Lower Taxes and Less Regulation.
A state representative from Midwest City believes he has a bill that can take belt-tightening to a new level.
Rep. Gary Banz (R-Midwest City) believes the state legislature should be downsized..
“As lawmakers, we constantly talk about the need for smaller government,” said Banz. “My legislation lets legislators prove it in a way that shows we are truly committed to reducing the size of government.”
Conservatism in real terms.
Less legislators would mean less staff at the Capitol. Fewer staffers would be needed to provide support. On the face, Banz' bill could save Oklahomans money.
Where's the catch?
Banz' House Joint Resolution 1021 would first have to be approved by the state's 101 representatives and 48 senators. If it gained legislative approval, it would be placed on ballot for voters to decide, since it would require a change in the state's constitution.
The idea behind Banz' bill is a good idea, but it strings out the process way too long. If it successfully clears the legislative and ballot box hurdles, it wouldn't take effect until 2021.
Banz wants the change to be done in a careful manner.
If Oklahoma can do without 10 percent of its legislatures, saving the taxpayers thousands and thousands of dollars, why wait?
Maybe because the same legislators who have to approve the bill know that one out of 10 might be the one who's job will be eliminated. Banz wants to wait on an updated
Census and redistricting, but by waiting 10 years most current legislators would become term-limited, thus keeping their jobs safe.
Downsizing never achieves its intended purpose without some pain.
We are all for smaller government, but not in name only.
Carry One Carry All
During a three-day span last week I discovered several missed calls at my home.
When I searched the Caller ID lo and behold the calls were from the NRA. Not just one attempt to reach me, but twice daily over a three day period.
Their callers did not leave a message. So, who knows what they were wanting to tell me.
Enlistment or lobbying are the likely two choices.
On an NRA note, a bipartisan bill is being considered by Congress. Republican Cliff Stearns from Florida and Democrat Heath Shuler of North Carolina have co-authored the bill.
If passed and signed into law, it would give hard-working Americans who have permits to carry a firearm in their home state the right to carry their weapons when the cross state lines. Many states have voluntarily agreed to honor conceal and carry permits from other states there currently is not federal law blessing it.
Sounds like a feasible idea, Let's see how far up the food chain it travels.
No comments:
Post a Comment