Sun AM Thoughts

Is it any wonder Americans are fed up with politicians, from both parties?  Note what is happening, both in DC and in Lansing.

The recent election, according to all accounts (well, "all" except those of the delusional President), sent a clear message to Washington and here in Michigan.  So, what do we see the legislators in both places hurry to do?  Yep, they are trying to negate that "message" before the newly-elected folks can come in and do what voters elected to do.

I won't list the many issues, such as increasing the gas tax in Michigan, purportedly to "fix the roads,' (as if anyone believes that this time).  They are easily researched, out there for all to see.

But everyone, regardless if the results of the election were liked or no, should be concerned with these lame-duck moves.  They reek of everything that's wrong with government and politicians.  They are duplicitous and sneaky.  Politicians who lacked the integrity and courage to do act on these measures before the election are now hiding behind the lame-duck sessions' protection.  I will repeat:  it is dishonest and cowardly.

It's telling that lead editorials in both today's Free Press and News condone this lame-duck junk, calling it "responsible" or acting like "grown-ups."  So, dishonesty and lack of courage and integrity are "responsible" and "grown-up?"  Very interesting.  Gee, one of the papers railed against such actions when ObamaCare was passed so nefariously.  And the other one was equally upset when the right-to-work legislation was enacted.

Integrity isn't integrity when it can be thrown out of the window just because it's something you want.

There was also a good op-ed in the Free Press (Yep, I actually said that!) today.  It concerned college football, namely at the big schools.  He cited the mockery and hypocrisy (my terms) of players recruited to play big-time college football with the inducement of receiving "a world-class education."  (Yep, he was citing the U of M, but could be applied to many places.)  U of M's graduation rate for football players is considerably lower than that for the student body as a whole.  I suspect that is true all over at the major football schools.  (The new U of M president, to his credit, addressed that as a concern last week.  Then he backed off of it, not to his credit.)  The op-ed was mainly pointing a finger at the colleges, rightfully so.  But I also suggest that the players hold a great deal of responsibility, too, for not getting that "world-class education."  It's almost as if, because they are football players, they feel entitled to degrees, if not the "education." Study?  Work hard?  Go to class?  Do the work?  C'mon--we play football.  I don't think, in light of the graduation rates, I'm being overly harsh.  These players have taken the "student" out of "student-athlete."

Contrast this to ESPNU's "Road Trip" last week to "The Biggest Little Game in America," the annual football game between Amherst and Williams.  I wonder how many viewers, if there were any other than Amherst and Williams alumni, noted the Amherst players who were interviewed.  They were articulate and didn't throw out all the lame cliches and platitudes to which we have become accustomed.  Their career goals were college professor, doctor, etc.  Gee, do you mean they actually have to go to class, do the work, etc.?  Yep, they do--I know.

All that's wrong with big-time college sports might be fixed by following the Division 3 model.  I'm not going to hold my breath, though.  Money and the willingness of alumni to see their college degrees denigrated for better football records will trump mockery and hypocrisy every time.