topics for discussion on Patch

Lap, I agree about Joe, and Patch is sort of turning into a vanilla Craig's list.  I suggested some diverse topics awhile back for discussion, never heard back from the editors.  For grins, here they are once again.....By the way, the old system was more user friendly as this one tends to let odd topics such as garage sales jump into other opinion threads but that is minor.  Another issue .... Other headlines from the web are outdated.  Annette the mouseketeer died in early April, yet it is reported as ‘just happening’ .   There is no relevance.   Folks love to discuss politics and neighborhood stuff, we need more of those issues.   Here are some potential topics...1. Is there a coverup in Bengazi?   Why can’t the survivors be interviewed? Who is accountable, and why the coverup??2. Is it fair to smokers to make them stand out in the cold at Hospitals such as Oakwood.  They should have the right to smoke themselves into oblivion, right? 3. Year round schooling.   The rest of the world is ahead of us, 32 countries at last count , in education.  Their kids go to school not only year round, but are tutored after school with additional education.  Why are we accepting 2nd rate? 4. The oldest continuous old car festival in the country returns to Greenfield Village.   Will you be there??   (if so, will give you a ride in a  friend’s 1931 triple M MG roadster.)  Goes on til 9,Lots of old cars with dim headlights dodging old fashioned cops directing traffic at night,  5. What is the true story about Severstal and the Dearborn tax obligation that they owe.   Hint, the Mayor is not stating all the facts.   Learn more at ‘Dearborn Citizens for accountibility’. 6. Why is Dearborn giving Artspace the money to buy the old Dearborn City Hall?  Artspace has deep pockets.  Why is 1.65 million being given to them for the purchase? 7. Why does candidate Tarek refuse to answer emails and simply states that he is for the benefit of Dearborn?  Can you get any more vague? It seems to work, he is on the ballot!!8. What is the city, and school board, doing to get in compliance with Obamacare?  I know some part time folk are having hours even further reduced. Will they even have healthcare?9. Why isn’t Dearborn and Dearborn Hts combining Fire fighting services, especially as Dearborn Hts runs right through the heart of Dearborn?  The response, “we are thinking about it”   became old years ago. 10. What action is being taken to allow residents to shoot off fireworks in wide open safe areas, such as parks and schools,  rather than in tiny yards with the neighbor’s property in the crosshairs.   Stating that the Mi govt needs to change the laws is a copout.   Dearborn, and other city officials should be asking our State officials for relief, and permission, to by pass this law at holiday time.    They (the cities) can force the issue by refusing to uphold the State laws on these properties.    Let’s face it, the state does not want the liability on their hands.   The taxpayers paid for the schools and parks, they have the right to use them for setting off fireworks.  If anything, the police will know where the firework crazies are at, and can monitor. 11. Why, in this time of shortfalls in city revenue, are the city employees being paid longitivity bonuses?  Are the bonuses negotiated into their contracts?   Why?  I sure would want a guaranteed bonus, no matter what, wouldn't you?  These cost the city at least $300,000 extra per year.  This question, when asked, is always ignored by city officials, for obvious reasons. 12.  Right to work.....have you noticed any degrading of work conditions in the workplace since MI became a right to work state?  Are the inept employees still being defended by the unions, at the expense of the competent workers, or has 'Call Sam' taken over that aspect of union representation?
13.   Obamacare... does the average employee realize that Obama has cost them a bundle of money, forcing companies to drop decent healthcare  (that the company paid for) in favor of unaffordable healthcare via the exchanges?  Most companies I know are just going to offer a catastrophic plan, say ten grand deductible, and pay the penalty rather than be forced to purchase a 'cadillac' plan from the exchanges.  End result?  Employees will now have to pay for their own healthcare, just like they pay for their own life insurance, rent, and mortgage.A smart way is to scuttle Obamacare, and give working folk tax credits for purchasing healthcare.  Sort of like educational credit with kids, where ever the kid goes to school, that kid gets the state credit.  Same thing would work with healthcare credits, only the insurance company you choose would get the credit.  Of course, that means folks without jobs will have to do what they have always done for healthcare, go to the emergency rooms and let the rest of us pay for their care via higher hospital bills.
These are just a few topics on the table, someday Daniel will return  and the honeymoon will be over......