Thanks, but no thanks (03/15/07)

Thanks, but no thanks.

We believe that should be the local response to the belated declaration this week of a federal "emergency" during the snowstorm in mid-February and an offer of reimbursement for costs related to the storm.

The storm, which dumped more than a foot of snow that was whipped around by strong winds, certainly qualified as a major inconvenience to most of us and a bit more than that to some.

Crews from Jay and surrounding counties, along with those from cities and towns throughout the area, performed superbly - working long hours in the bitter cold to clear snow from roads and streets and keep life functioning as closely to normal as possible.

We believe those workers - and countless others who were there for neighbors in a time of need - deserve our thanks to go along with a paycheck padded by overtime dollars.

But we don't believe that taxpayers across the United States should be asked to fund overtime for a plow driver from the Jay County Highway Department.

Slowly but steadily, the definition of "emergency" and "disaster" has been watered down over the years.

Hurricane Katrina? Disaster.

Snowstorm in Indiana? Typical.

Do we believe that this symbolic gesture will noticed and/or repeated by governments all around the country, thereby making a small dent in runaway federal spending?

No.

But we still believe it's the right thing to do. - M.S.[[In-content Ad]]