A friend in Sacramento sent me this Letter to the Editor.
He says, “My letter was published in the August 31st edition of the Sacramento Bee. I got to be the first letter. Top Billing.”
Dear Editor,
On August 27, The Sacramento Bee had two important front page headlines about our community. The “Arena” received top billing, while the “Levee” issue took second seat.Too bad our “Levees” did not receive top billing. To me, levees are essential to our community and building another arena should have taken second. Why is it that our elected officials have this concept backwards? I’d rather be taxed to protect our community from a flood then for another arena.
Other famous sport landmarks throughout our land have stood for centuries, Sacramento now has had two opportunities to give their team a nice home. Do we need a third opportunity to build a non-essential sport complex that will burden the community with an increase in tax?
Our elected officials should step up to the plate and address the “levee issue”, which would protect our community and property, and make this their top issue. Having made levees their top priority, Sacramento would then be able to take pride in a flood-proof town rather than a new arena for the Kings. New Orleans had their Superdome. But look what happened to their levees even after they had been told about the potential problems?
Steve M., Sacramento
Failure of the levee system in Sacramento could create a catastrophe much greater than New Orleans.
It is a serious issue requiring government in an era where it’s fashionable not to require government.
I replied to Steve.
Steve,
Bravo.
Right between the eyes.Biting the bullet is required in Sacramento on this issue.
Keep yourself encouraged.
Change in policy isn’t always difficult. Studies show that a shift toward a new idea will cause both positive and negative reactions. Usually, just a few folks respond in the the early stages of change, sometimes loudly. But each time a new idea is presented, as time goes on, the bulk of the voters begin to shape their opinion and begin to step forward. Folks don’t rush into change all at one time.
This means that it often takes a bit of repetition before a solid change in direction will be seen to appear in the general population or group. Repetition is the key secret.
It’s important, and it should be routine, that ideas are repeated again and again.
It’s not necessary to engage in arguing all the facts or getting involved in fiery reactions or figuring out the funding and engineering. Experts will be available. It’s only necessary, with human society, to be patiently presenting the idea until it grows across the population.
Bringing a few friends along could be very useful.
Additional letters could be sent on and off. A poster drive over a few months and next year would only cost a few dollars. A website with a few informative pages could consolidate data sources.
You are a persistent fellow.
You would be pleased to know that science proves that persistence is often the best leadership.
Regards,
Brian