Plastics

In The Graduate (1967) Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman) gets advice from a friend of the family: "I want to say one word to you. Just one word. . . . Plastics." I thought of the movie as I read Friday morning's Intelligencer front page. You may have been as stunned as I was that the top story was

Ohio Outlaws Plywood on Vacant Buildings

Yes, the headline was larger than the headline for the resignation of Wheeling Jesuit's president or the confirmation from our nation's top national security official that Russia had interfered with our election or anything dealing with the incoming Trump administration. Earlier in the week, Ohio had become the first state to ban the use of plywood on vacant buildings meaning that plastic would now be exclusively used on vacant structures in Ohio. As I read the story on Friday, I could not help but wonder why this story was even covered let alone given the largest headline on the front page. I got my answer this morning -- it was the subject of today's Mike Myer column, "Tackling Urban Decay With Plastic."

It’s part of a trend: Instead of really addressing our problems, coming up with difficult solutions to tough problems, let’s just take the easy, meaningless way out. Let’s claim we’ve done something worthwhile and significant. Let’s be certain it forces property owners to dig deeper into their own pockets.

A column on plastics? I think Mike Myer is already missing Hillary and Obama.

Are editorial opinions starting to change now that Republicans must, you know, govern?

Okay, "Remember Those Who Pay Taxes is a repeat of what they've been saying since the budgetary crisis began:

But before considering tax increases, Justice and lawmakers simply must prioritize spending and ensure that every possible efficiency has been achieved in government.

Just a hunch, but I would think by this point that "every possible efficiency" has been reviewed.

But "Drilling Industry No Panacea for W.Va." had this startling admission as the editorial examined North Dakota's state budgetary woes:

Here in the Mountain State, we can sympathize. We are suffering from a similar reliance on coal. North Dakota is just another reminder of the danger of a narrowly-based economy.

You mean coal isn't everything? (I don't ever remember seeing an editorial/column with that point of view.)

Finally, the locals have argued for the repeal of Obamacare since it was first passed with no mention or sympathy for those who would lose their medical care. Now that it will become a reality, it appears that the locals (not unlike Senator Capito) have suddenly taken an interest in the state's Obamacare recipients:

So yes, our members of Congress are right to worry about what will happen to those people if the law is repealed, though Republican congressional leaders have pledged they will not leave anyone out in the cold.

Some sympathy perhaps but the editorial still advises to "Cut Dependence On Government:

Even as Washington has increased our reliance on government, it has made it more difficult for West Virginians to sever the shackles of dependence. Once Obamacare is replaced, perhaps members of Congress should start thinking of ways to give Mountain State residents a hand up rather than just a handout.

Interesting. The 2nd half of their favorite Hillary quote from last year (the part they never quoted) dealt with how she specifically proposed to

incentivize more jobs, more investment in poor communities, and put people to work.

That part was never mentioned by our local "newspapers."