Throwing Good Money After Bad

I feel lucky to have two feet—if I shoot myself in one, I can still hop around on the other until I learn to aim better.

That’s sort of like the Region #10 Board of Education appropriating $50,000 for a "communications committee" and to hire some outsiders to figure out why we taxpayers voted against spending $47.5 million to fund the plan to correct the overcrowding problem due to rapid population growth in Burlington.

According to our unseen genie, aka "The State," projections indicate that there could be about 119 more kids in the region's educational system within the next ten years. So, unless I am totally misinformed, we need to build a school big enough to hold 500 students to be built on 143 acres next to an airport—and, of course, expand the dining facilities, gymnasium etc., as well as erect a new auditorium to properly hold graduation exercises and various social events. Our educational system is purportedly rated among the best in Connecticut, but I'm not totally convinced of that when the computer at Price Chopper goes kaput and one of our seniors can't count the change that is due back from a dollar.

When my feelings are hurt, I simply sulk for a while, get over it and get on with my life. I wonder, suspiciously, if any part of the $50,000 might be used in an attempt to brainwash the public and convince us that we really need to spent $47.5 million. That smacks of throwing good money after bad to me.

I would really like filet mignon, baked potatoes with sour cream, and a Waldorf salad for dinner tonight. However, hamburgers with lettuce, tomatoes and onion and potato chips will satisfy our hunger, and pretending and dreaming don't cost anything.

Try again, folks—by the time this project is ready to try to cram down our throats again, my foot will be healed, and my aim will have improved.